These Symposia are being held with the goal of assisting commercial sales representatives and pest professionals in providing preventive service programs that protect their clients, beds, guests and reputation from bed bug infestations.

Dr. Phil Koehler, Endowed Professor, Urban Entomology at the University of Florida, Gainesville, will speak in session 1, which is geared to hoteliers, assisted-living and property managers. Joseph Latino, President of Allergy Technologies, will speak in session 2, which is for pest management professionals and sales representatives.

The agenda and further details will follow as the symposia dates approach. For more information on the California Symposium or to register to attend, visit the event website at: http://activeguard.allergytechnologies.com/CAsymposium. RSVP is required and seating is limited. There is no charge to attendees.

Slideshow: Additional EHS Pest Control Cartoons

August's Rearview tells the story of how cartoonist Mark Anderson worked with EHS President John Stellberger to create a series of humorous and effective cartoon ads. Check out a slideshow with additional cartoons created by Anderson with input from Stellberger.

Law Requires California Landlords to Disclose Bed Bug Information

A new state law designed to battle bed bugs requires California landlords to provide tenants with written information about these pests and how to report suspected infestations to the landlord, the Chronicle reports.

The disclosure requirement took effect for new tenants July 1 and will apply to existing tenants Jan. 1.

The law also prevents landlords from showing or renting a vacant unit with an active infestation, and from retaliating against tenants who report bed bug problems. It does not require them to inspect rental units for bed bugs if they have not seen them or received a tenant complaint. But it does require them to notify tenants within two days of a pest inspector’s findings. It also requires tenants to cooperate with the detection and treatment of bed bugs.

Cook's Pest Control Announces Key Leadership Changes

DECATUR, AL - Cook’s Pest Control recently announced several key changes in leadership of the company:• Brian Cook has been named president and CEO;• Joey Harris has been named executive vice president and chief operating officer; and• Arthur Orr has been named executive vice president and chief administrative officer.

Brian Cook, the 4th generation of the Cook family to work at Cook’s Pest Control, has served as the company’s chief administrative officer (CAO) since 2014. In the same year, Cook assumed leadership of the development and construction of the new Cook Museum of Natural Science. He serves as the museum’s president and chairman of the board. Through the years, Cook has served Cook’s Pest Control in a variety of service, sales, and management roles including customer care manager and director of business development. He earned his undergraduate degree at Samford University and his MBA from the University of Alabama.

“I think everyone knows that Brian, as a family member, has the DNA of Cook’s Pest Control ingrained in him,” said John Cook Jr., chairman of the board. “He has grown up in the business and spent a lot of his formative years in a close relationship with his grandfather and grandmother (John R. Cook Sr. and Jo Cook). He learned a lot from them even at an early age.”

Joey Harris is a 33-year veteran of Cook’s Pest Control. Harris has served the company in a variety of roles including sales director; vice president, sales and service; and most recently chief operating officer. Harris is a board certified entomologist, recognized by the Entomological Society of American since 1985. In addition, he has served as a committee chairman and a board member of the National Pest Management Association and multiple terms as president of the Alabama Pest Control Association. He was appointed by the Governor to serve on the Agriculture and Industries Board for the State of Alabama. He is a graduate of the University of Memphis where he earned degrees in entomology and education.

Arthur Orr is a 16-year veteran of Cook’s Pest Control where he has been serving as vice president and general counsel. He has also served as an Alabama State Senator for District 3 since his election in 2006, and will continue to do so. He will also run for re-election next year. He attended Wake Forest University, followed by law school at the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa. Upon graduation, he joined the Peace Corps and was assigned to a primitive area of Nepal. When he returned to Alabama, he joined a respected law firm in Decatur, yet felt led to continue working overseas to help others. Habitat for Humanity International hired him to establish a new program in Bangladesh. In his new role as Executive Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer for Cook’s, Orr will assume oversight of all of the company’s administrative duties including the areas of Accounting, Human Resources, Property, Marketing and Advertising, as well as handling all legal matters.

Jim Aycock, who has served as president and CEO since 1995, will move to the position of vice chairman of the board. Hebegan his career with Cook’s as Controller in 1972.

“I believe all of these changes will benefit the growth and stability of Cook’s for years to come,” said John Cook Jr. “God has blessed our company to have such good and talented people to come alongside us in our mission here at Cook’s.”

Headquartered in Decatur, Alabama, Cook’s Pest Control serves over 330,000 residential and commercial customers. Founded in 1928, Cook’s Pest Control has grown to 36 offices in Alabama, Georgia, Florida, Mississippi, and Tennessee with over 1,750 employees. Pest Control Technology magazine recently ranked Cook’s as the seventh largest pest control company in the nation.

Five boats with approximately 25 pest management professionals went out on Lake Michigan early Saturday morning. This nice break from the busy pest control schedules of summer was a welcome break, along with some friendly rivalry, and a lot of good-natured ribbing for the unlucky few who didn’t catch their limit.

The group raised over $1,800 for the Michigan Pest Management Association scholarship fund. Dow Agro Sciences, Univar, and Zoecon also contributed to the cause. Our thanks to everyone who participated and helped to make this event a success.